Pope Leo XIV meets Archbishop Sarah Mullally, speaks of “new challenges,” while affirming dialogue. Cardinal Koch recalls the Church’s position on Anglican ordinations.

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Just a few hours ago, the meeting at the Vatican took place.

Pope Leo XIV received Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead the Church of England.

The Pontiff emphasized the importance of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, while also implicitly highlighting the growing difficulties that hinder full unity.

 

“New problems have arisen”

Addressing those present, Leo XVI recalled: “While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern.”

He did not specify what these “new problems” are, but doctrinal divergences certainly remain central, including the openness to women’s ordination, which Pastor Mullally herself represents.

The Pope also showed himself aware that “the Anglican Communion is also facing many of these same questions at this time”, presumably referring to the schism that followed Mullally’s appointment.

Last month, we documented the rejection of the current Anglican Primate by a significant group of bishops and representatives of clergy and laity affiliated with GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), culminating in the call to “refuse communion with those who promote false teachings.”

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Differences must not hinder dialogue

The Pope nevertheless rightly reaffirmed the need to continue dialogue “in truth and in love,” stressing that differences must not prevent mutual recognition as brothers in the faith.

Quoting his predecessor, Leo XIV emphasized that “it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfil our common vocation to make Christ known.”

An approach consistent with recent magisterial teaching and with the path begun after the historic meeting between Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1966, which gave rise to a stable theological dialogue between the two Churches.

 

“Anglican ordinations are not valid”

On April 23, a few days before today’s audience, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, recalled the Catholic Church’s doctrinal position on Anglican ordinations, as expressed in Apostolicae Curae (1896).

Interviewed by Daniel Beurthe, he stated that “the Catholic Church cannot recognize Anglican ordinations, as decided by Pope Leo XIII. This applies regardless of whether the person ordained is a man or a woman.”

The interview appeared in the paid version on “The Tablet” (not accessible to non-subscribers); the quotation was shared on “X” by Brendan Walsh, editor of the historic British Catholic magazine.